Family and friends have raised £3,500 in just 48 hours to help the family of a little boy who was diagnosed with leukaemia just after Christmas.

More than 150 well-wishers have made donations to a Go Fund Me page set up on behalf of the family of Tyler Hnatkiwskyj.

The five-year-old from Dalton has been poorly in recent months but he became very ill last Thursday, December 27.

Alaina McGlade, who helped set up the Go Fund Me Page, said the family had received the devastating news that Tyler has leukaemia, which is a cancer of the white blood cells.

She said: "After Tyler’s mum had been back and forth from the doctors over the last few months, Tyler became very ill on 27th December and Jade had to take him to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Tyler Hnatkiwskyj, five, who has been diagnosed with leukaemia

"Very quickly, it became apparent that Tyler was more ill than anyone could have imagined."

She said Tyler's parents Jade and Michael now faced a long journey to get Tyler well again and back home.

"As you can imagine, this will entail a number of medical treatments and procedures that will be uncomfortable for Tyler and heartbreaking for his parents to watch.

"In order for Michael and Jade to support Tyler through every medical episode, they will obviously be unable to work for the next few months at the least.

"This is where you lovely people can help.

"We want to try and raise as much money as possible to help the whole family.

Tyler Hnatkiwskyj, five, who has been diagnosed with leukaemia

"We’ve set the target quite high as I think we all know how much every day living costs amount to, without thinking about travelling to and from Leeds every day.

"The money will be going direct to Jade and Michael and should people’s donations surpass our expectations, it would be lovely if the family could treat Tyler to a mini holiday once his hospital treatment has ended."

The funding page has a target of £5,000 and by New Year's Eve had already reached £3,400.